The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-15
MISS MARCIA'S VALENTINE.
By MARY CURRIER PARSONS.

III was Sucn cosy Kitchen. Inc
yellow painted floor and wood work
reminded one OF continual sunshine.
The tall, old.fashioned dresser, with
its rows OF blue and white DELI stood
in one corner of the roomy apart
ment; directly opposite an old style
dining-table with bright red cover,
two or three well worn books and a
vase o: dried flowers and grasses.
A braided rug before this table, up
on which, purring placidly, sat
an enormous yellow and
white cat, lending an additional
air of comfort. Between the two
windows which lighted and flooded
the room with sunshine, stood a
small table covered with coarse
white cloth, and laid with one plate,
one cup and saucer.
A savory smell from a bubbling ket-
Tie betokened that dinner was in pro.
cess of preparation, while bustling
from stove to table, now peering anx-
iously into the kettle and tasting the
contents with u fork, then replacing
the cover Miss Marcia paused at last
upon the braided rug, and said, appar-
erftly, to the cat:
al declare it seems so lonely to sit
down by myself day after day to the
table. wish some one would come
in to-day to take dinner with me. /
might get some girl to stay with me.
I suppose plenty OF them in town
would be glad of the chance; but
young girls are bother, always mess
ing round and breaking dishes. No, |
GUESS I'm better off without one.
But | do get dreadful lonesome, and
that's n fact"
For thirty-fve years Marcia Hillman
had lived in this gray old farmhouse,
which was once filled to oyerflowing
with merry, noisy brood OF younger
brothers and sisters, now since the
marriage OF the sons and daughter OF
the household and the death OF her
parents sometimes seemed lonely to
the eldest daughter.
TO be sure, the neighbors were life
long friends, and Jonas, her brother,
lived only two miles distant, still it
was daily home companionship for
which Miss Hllman longed.
No one in the village dreamed that
she was not the most contented spin
sler in buxton. Happy as Marcia
Hillman," was an oft repeated saying.
She derived n comfortable living
from the small farm bequeathed to her
by her father and was considered well
to do by her acquaintance and neigh
bors.
A loud stamping OF snow.burdened
feet and knock at the door caused
Miss Marcia to pause in her occupa-
top OF dinner getting.
II guess il must be Jonas. He said
he'd bring me some sweet apples this
week" and opening the door she be-
held, not Jonas but Deacon Apple
yard. neighbor, who lived about a
mile distant.
"Why, how do you do. deacon? It's
bitter cold day. Sit right up by the
FIRE. Been to town, see"
The deacon, timid appearing man
about forty years OF age, took the
offered chair and after re-
n.c-iag his heavy mittens and UNI
winding n long red comforter from his
neck, took from his pocket letter
ard paper and handed them to Miss
Marcia, with the remark:
al was down TO the office and Jonas
asked me to bring these TO you. He
said that nobody had been after your
mail this week
"rhe letters from Sarah, / guess,
and I'm glad you brought that and
the paper. didn't get the Messenger
last week and tell you missed read
ing it. When body is all soul alone,
a paper Is a sight OF company"
ayes, that's fact. You don't look
very lonesome here, though. This is
one OF the sunniest, pleasantest kitch-
ems in buxton"
eyes, it's pleasant enough, but the
weather has been 80 cold lately it kind
OF gives me the blues. Why you amt
a going now" as Deacon Appleyard
prepared to put on his comforter and
mitfens.
"Dinner is most ready. and J was
Just wishing that some one would
come in to take dinner with me. 1t